Abbot Juexing helps to distribute a total of 5,000 bowls of Laba congee at the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai yesterday. Laba means the eighth day of the 12th lunar month, which this year fell yesterday. It is customary on this day to eat a special Laba congee, usually made with at least eight ingredients, representing people’s prayers for harvest. The recipe for the congee varies, but the broth usually contains grain, dried lotus seeds, longan, gingko, dried red dates, chestnuts, peanuts, walnuts, and raisins. Many temples maintain the tradition of offering porridge to the public. — Dong Jun